California has elected its first Asian American lieutenant governor. State Treasurer Fiona Ma won the state's second-highest office in this week's midterm elections.

Ma, a 60-year-old Chinese American, said she was deeply humbled by the result. She celebrated the win as breaking another bamboo ceiling.

A long climb through public office

An accountant by training, Ma first served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She went on to represent the city in the state Assembly then won a seat on the State Board of Equalization which oversees tax matters.

Voters elected her state treasurer in 2018. In that job she focused on financing affordable housing and expanding help for first-time buyers with down payments.

Affordability at the top of the agenda

During the campaign Ma promised to keep pushing on the cost of living. She proposed partnerships with universities to raise revenue for housing and tuition and called for a freeze on tuition.

She defeated former state Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero. Ma will succeed Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis who could not run again because of term limits.

More than a ceremonial seat

California's lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and can break tie votes. The office also holds seats on the boards that govern the University of California, California State University and the community college system.

The lieutenant governor also serves as acting governor whenever the governor leaves the state. For many Asian American Californians the win marks a proud first in the nation's most populous state.